Hotels and airlines are dropping prices as demand falls in the wake of the September 21 earthquake, and Taiwan agents, both inbound and outbound, are seizing the opportunity.
"The travel agents must put together good packages," said ITF deputy executive director Angela Wong, "The number of passengers on inbound and outbound tours has dropped 50 per cent (since the earthquake) , so they are very much looking for business. They can't survive on 50 per cent for very long."
EVA Airways is offering discounts on group tours, said a spokesman, and China Airlines (CI) has cut its trans-Pacific fares by about NT$5,000 (US$155), said CI assistant manager of passenger marketing SC Liang.
CI is also cutting prices on its Dynasty Package tours to Okinawa, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Rome, and elsewhere. A two night package to Bangkok now costs just NT$11,700 (US$365); to Kuala Lumpur, just NT$10,755, to Singapore, NT$12,240, and to Bali, NT$14,040. "The market is no good - we have to do something," said Liang.
Travel agents are not complaining. Phoenix Tours manager Paul Wang said some agents were now offering week-long tours to the Rocky Mountains for just NT$21,000 (US$655), which he believes is below market rate.
Taiwan hotels at ITF indicated a willingness to discount, with resort and holiday hotels offering better bargains than Taipei city hotels.
Evergreen International Hotels used ITF to announce the grand opening of its 338-room Paris Evergreen Laurel Hotel.
ITF, meanwhile, grew this year from 9,000 to 11,000 sqm, and from 481 to 520 booths. The show attracted 313 exhibitors from 40 countries.